One year...One life

"You can't know where you're going, until you know where you've been"

One year.

It's a long time, yet it's also a very short time. When you think back over the past year it probably seems to have flown by. Another year older, another year of ups and downs, another year of growing and learning from life. It's amazing how much your life can change in a year.

Now why all the talk of a year? It's not a new year so why the sudden thought. Let me explain.

Today is a very prestigious day in the world of the music industry. It's the day that the nominations for the Mercury awards are released. This prestigious award recognises achievements in writing and performing music and is sought after by musicians from across the country. This year, alongside a number of giants from the music industry, one of the nominees are a group which could be called newcomers to the British music scene.

The group is called Rudimental. You might recognise them from this song;

Quite a good tune and just as worth a shot at the Mercury award as anyone else.  So why the sudden interest in Rudimental?

Well, I don't consider myself to be a super fan, and maybe their music isn't the first song at the top of my playlist, but their story is a good one, and makes them seem all the more deserving of the award.

Just over a year ago, the guys from Rudimental were all everyday guys in everyday jobs. 3 of the band were working as Youth workers, working with young people on the street, while one of the band members was a youth behavioural mentor.  All guys giving their time to do the usual day to day jobs.

After sharing their interests in music the 4 guys started the band and here they are today, a platinum selling album in hand and a nomination for a mercury award. I'm sure if you had spoken to these guys a year ago they would never have expected to be where they are today.What a difference a year can make. You can read more here:

Rudimental's Nomination

As I heard this story and the difference that a year had made in the lives of these 4 musicians, it got me thinking about my life over the past year and the achievements I have achieved compared to one year ago.

There have been so many things that have happened in my life since a year ago, so many things that I never saw coming. I would love to go into them all but it would take ages to list them all. Just when you think you know the plan for your life, and have an idea where you would like to go, very often things come in and completely change the plan completely. And the best thing about it... the unexpected moments have been so much better than anything I could have planned for myself.

So I end with this thought.

A year, though it may seem a long time, is gone in no time. I wonder what things you have achieved now compared to a year ago. Maybe you've done things or been places you never imagined you would get to a year ago?

So often in life we get so caught up in the day to day issues that we forget to take time out and reflect on the journey we have been on. We forget to think about what we have achieved and how much we have grown whilst we've been on the journey.

Someone once said "You can't know where you are going until you know where you've been". What a true statement that is!

Today, try to find time to sit and reflect back over the past year. What have you done in the past year that you never expected? What things have you done that have brought you to where you are today? Rudimental never expected to be here a year ago, but now look at where they are.

Maybe you've been through something your never imagined happening to you? Maybe it's something that you didn't even realise you had done? Whether good or bad, in a year you will have accomplished a lot. Your experiences will have allowed you grow into the person you are today. What a difference a year makes!


Remember, in life, until you can appreciate where it is you have come from, you can never truly understand where you will go next, and who know's where that will be!

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM